Scenthound Large size 32-39 kg

Grand Blue Gascony Hound

A tall, deep-voiced French scenthound with real stamina and a strong nose - best for owners who can give it serious daily work.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
32-39 kg, 62-72 cm
High
Activity
High stamina; needs a long daily run or hike
Low
Alone-time tolerance
Pack-minded; dislikes long hours alone
Challenging
Trainability
Independent nose; recall takes real work
Low
Coat care
Short coat; weekly brush and shed control
Good
Fit with kids
Good with kids given supervision
Good
Other pets
Pack-social; usually fine with other dogs
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Bloat

The Grand Blue Gascony Hound typically weighs 32-39 kg, stands 62-72 cm, and lives 10-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you hunt or can offer hours of daily running and scent work,
you want a calm, sociable hound that lives well with other dogs,
you have rural space and a securely fenced property,
you accept a booming voice and an independent nose.

Do not consider this breed if…

the dog would be left alone through a full workday,
you need reliable off-leash recall in open ground,
a deep, carrying bay would trouble you or your neighbors,
you cannot commit to long daily exercise in all seasons.

A typical day with a Grand Blue Gascony Hound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Long walk, run, or field work following a trail
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Rest with the family after the morning outing
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk with plenty of time to sniff
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Short, reward-based training, 10-15 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long walk or hike over varied terrain
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Rests calmly once well exercised

Temperament and training

Prey drive Very high
Sociability with dogs High
Independence High
Trainability Low
Vocality Very high
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off leash before recall is proven and losing it to a scent line · Under-exercising a working hound and getting destructive boredom · Underestimating the deep, far-carrying bay this breed is known for

Family and environment

Kids Good
Gentle and tolerant; supervise given its size around small children.
Dogs Good
Bred to hunt in packs; generally sociable with other dogs.
Cats Poor
Strong prey drive makes cats and small pets a real risk.
Apartment Not suited
Size, energy, and a loud voice rule out flat living.
House with a yard Suitable
Needs tall, secure fencing; its nose leads it to roam.
City Not ideal
Baying and heavy exercise needs clash with urban life.
Countryside Ideal
Open ground and scent work fit the breed perfectly.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Routine home care and cleanings reduce risk
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; manage weight and joint load
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested build; learn the emergency signs
Chronic Ear Infections Drop or hairy ears need regular cleaning

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Smaller version of the same breed
Petit Blue Gascony Hound
A melodious French pack hound with a keen nose; friendly but independent and vocal, best for active homes.
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Short-legged relative from Gascony
Blue Gascony Basset
A calm, short-legged French scent hound - good-natured with family, but the nose and voice mean secure fencing and daily sniffing walks.
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Another large, powerful scent tracker
Bloodhound
The ultimate tracking nose in a gentle giant - loving with family, but drooly, stubborn, prone to bloat and one of the shorter-lived large breeds.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Grand Blue Gascony Hound cost?
This is an old but rare French scenthound kept mainly for hunting, so it is hard to find outside France and rarely offered as a pet in the US, often meaning waitlists or imports. Prices vary widely. Whatever the purchase price, the bigger cost is lifetime care for a large active dog - food, routine vet care, and possible emergencies run into the thousands over its life, so plan for insurance or a real reserve.
Is a Grand Blue Gascony Hound a good family dog?
It is typically gentle and easygoing at home and good with children, but it needs a lot of daily exercise to be that way. It is a working hound at heart, so an under-exercised one grows bored and noisy, and its deep bay can be a problem in close quarters.
Can it be let off leash?
Not reliably. Bred to follow scent over long distances, it will put its nose down and ignore recall. Most owners keep it leashed or within secure fencing, and steady recall training is a long-term project.
How is it with other animals?
It usually does well with other dogs thanks to its pack heritage, but its hunting drive makes cats and small pets a poor and risky match, even when introductions are handled carefully.